This year 2021 has no doubt been a hugely successful year for Wizkid.
From “Essence” becoming one the biggest song in the world to release “Made in Lagos Deluxe“, to getting the same album nominated for the Grammys Awards and to selling out 20 capacity 02 Arena concert for 3-days back to back.
According to reports, Wizkid made a whopping amount of N5.2billion Naira from the 02 Arena concert, and of course he deserves it even more.
However, with what happened at the 02 Arena recently, there is no doubt about the fact that Afrobeat is on another level, all thanks to guys like Wizkid.
On this edition of Sauce NG PODCAST, we will be talking about what Wizkid’s just-concluded 02 Arena Concert means for Nigeria’s music industry.
Listen Below:-
1. Giving Youngsters Platform In The International Scene
A lot of things come to play at the concert and one of them is, Wizkid giving almost all young Nigerian artistes the platform on an International big stage.
Many of these young artistes never thought they’d make it to the big 02 Arena stage that early in their career.
The likes of Bella Shmurda, Buju, Blaqbonez, Tems, Ckay were live on stage at the 20,000 capacity 02 Arena.
Bella Shmurda could not hide his excitement while on stage. He was just jumping around while the 20,000 fans at the venue performed his song for him.
Buju To Your Ears couldn’t believe his eyes that he’d be live at 02 Arena performing with Wizkid. He even took to social media to share his excitement.
Wizkid making these youngsters tap from his grace is indeed an amazing gesture and this alone has made him a living legend already.
What this means is that, Wizkid is the biggest Afrobeat Export by not only exporting his own sound but the sound of other artistes in the world of Afrobeats.
This makes the whole world enjoy the diversity inherent in Afrobeat. Making people know that Afrobeat doesn’t end with the sound of Wizkid and Burna Boy.
Wizkid is making the world know that Afrobeat is all-encompassing by giving these youngsters a chance on the world stage and also working with them on his project.
2. Making Afro-Beat More Respected
Another major highlight of Wizkid‘s just-concluded 02 Arena concert is the fall-in of many international stars including Hollywood stars.
Apart from the likes of Ella Mai, Chris Brown, Skepta, Breezy and other international stars who also performed on stage, there were other big international stars who just came to attend the concert like every other fans.
Hollywood actress, Gabrielle Union-Wade, British rapper, Stormzy, Naomi Campbell, football star Lukaku, Tommy Hilfiger, and other big names were at the concert to witness the beauty of African music.
What this means is that Afro-beat is becoming more respected around the world.
Wizkid is really doing a lot more for Afrobeat than any other artiste right now and of course what he is doing is going to be of huge benefit for the Nigerian music industry over the next few years.
3. Setting A Pace For Possibility Where Young And Coming Artistes Can Have A Clear Chance To International Stardom
What Wizkid is doing now can also be termed as the Globalization of Afrobeat, it’s been a long time when artistes in the Nigerian music industry have been fighting for a voice on the foreign scene.
In recent times, Wizkid is one out of the few artistes holding it down for Africa on the global scene.
The most amazing thing is that, he is carrying young African talents along in the ride.
If this momentum continues and some other Global African stars begin to follow this template, it will soon get to a point where a street boy from the hood of Mushin with amazing music talent will become a global star in a flash.
Wizkid is currently setting a pace for globalization of Afro-beat where all Nigerian artistes or African artistes have a leveled playing ground to succeed on the foreign scene.
Where media companies, record labels around the world will respect African artistes and will stop at nothing to work with them.
3days sold-out 02 arena concert is huge, a big one for big Wiz, A big one for Nigeria’s music industry, A big one for Africa.
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